What are artists' books?
A strict definition is difficult, maybe impossible, and somewhat useless. The art historian Johanna Drucker leans instead on describing "zones of activity," and at the intersection of these zones, you get artists' books. Drucker provides a lot of different zones in her book, The Century of Artists' Books, and I won't get into all of that. If you're asking me, the main zones of activity are printmaking, bookbinding, papermaking, and, most importantly, conceptual art.
To me, artists' books are about using a book's structure and form to guide an experience that communicates concept. This means thinking far beyond the text on a page; every element of the art object is crafted with intention. Artists' books also involve pushing the boundaries of what a book structure can be, which is why definitions are so difficult to begin with.
Where can I learn more?
Offered below is the tiniest portion of a huge range of art history, writing, and other book arts resources. Outside of these, you might find artists' books in person in university or museum libraries' special collections.
Here is a small selection of further reading:
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The Century of Artists' Books, Johanna Drucker, Granary Books, 2004.
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Intermedia, Fluxus and the Something Else Press: Selected Writings by Dick Higgins, Siglio, 2018.
For a more self-guided approach, delve into the following:
Conceptual Art, Postmodernism, Fluxus, Intermedia, The Center for Book Arts (New York), Minnesota Center for Book Arts